This years International Aerospace Exhibition at Berlin Schönefeld was the largest ever. Between May 16 and 21 more than 250,000 visitors were recorded at the ILA2006. 1,014 exhibitors from 42 countries presented products, systems and processes from every area of the aerospace industry.

The airshow during the public visitor days was showing all facettes of aviation. I've never seen so many traditional aircraft on an ILA airshow before. The highlight definately was the Messerschmitt Me262 replica from the Messerschmitt Foundation. This aircraft was built at Paine Field in Everett (USA) and transferred this year to the flying museum of the Messerschmitt foundation located at EADS Manching. There it had it's first flight in Germany just days before the ILA.

The other highlight of the ILA2006 was the complete opposite to the Me262, it was the first official presentation of the Airbus A380 in Germany. It is really hard to realize the real size of this aricraft until you had the chance to stand underneath it's huge vertical fin or see those 'tiny little persons' standing next to this unique aircraft.

Again in contrast to the large A380 with it's smooth elegant flying display, the Mig 29M OVT showed that the laws of aerodynamics can be put out of force. This technolgy demonstrator with its thrust vectoring system was simply breath taking and it's almost impossible to show the incredible manoeuvers in pictures.

Celebrating its 50th aniversary the German Air Force had 3 impressive demonstrations of their capabilities during the show. In one of these scenarios more than 10 Panavia Tornados, 2 Eurofighters, a F-4 Phantom and an AWACS showed a simulated interception of an agressor and also simulated air-to-ground strikes of the Tornados. The last show of the day wasn't less impressive: 9 Sikorsky CH-53 escorted by 6 Eurocopter Tigers showed a landing operation.

The program of the ILA2006 had a bit of everything and so did the weather during the Saturday. The morning started with a pure blue sky and in the evening the show ended with grey skies and a lot of rain.

All photo material on this page is copyrighted by photographer
Robert Stetter